NBA star Andre Iguodala is seriously into tech–and he’s trying to turn other NBA players onto investing in tech. Here’s how serious Iguodala is about tech–in 2103 Iguodala, along with two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry, and Iguodala’s business partner Rudy Cline-Thomas were on the cover of Bloomberg Businessweek as “The Silicon Valley Warriors.”
And most recently, the Warriors guard spoke during a Bloomberg Technology television interview at The Players Technology Summit in San Francisco, California.
More than a dozen NBA players and other athletes came together at Bloomberg’s San Francisco bureau earlier for the second-annual Players Technology Summit. The event was organized by Iguodala and Cline-Thomas, among others. It featured panels with CEOs, VCs, athletes, and others, as well as top-tier networking for basketball players interested in investing in tech. Tech investor Kevin Durant of the Warriors superstar was the keynote speaker.
Iguodala also got to discuss how he got involved in tech. “Iguodala talked about one of his first ventures in the world of investing—starting an E-Trade account and putting some cash down on the mobile gaming company Zynga (znga, +0.54%),” Fortune reported.
“In a year or two, our returns were just crazy,” Iguodala said to the crowd.
Iguodala has long been into tech. “Before becoming a free agent and joining the Warriors in 2013, Iguodala said he and his manager got into investing in tech stocks. He started out with names likeFacebook, Twitter and Tesla,” CNBC reported.
Iguodala’s investment decisions have impressed many in Silicon Valley and beyond. “Long known as one of basketball’s smartest players, and savviest technology investors, Golden State Warriors guard Iguodala is pioneering a new kind of assist–bringing his brotherhood of teammates and fellow athletes along as part of syndicates investing tech companies,” Fast Company reported.
Besides his own research into the tech world, Iguodala admits he had help and some guidance along the way. The NBA star also says he considers Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz mentors. “We have some great relationships with VCs [venture capitalists] out there, mainly Andreessen Horowitz. They’ve kind of taken me under their wing and … showed me some things in the portfolio and how I can integrate my brand into some of their brands,” Iguodala told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Iguodala also says he’s in the perfect location to boost his relationships in the tech world–the Warriors play just across the bay from San Francisco. “I’m in as good a situation as any NBA player can be in, being in a championship team and then being in an environment like Silicon Valley, where you can capitalize off the court with business,” said Iguodala.
Written by Ann Brown
Source: moguldom.com
